Echoes and Ends

he wind rustled gently against the curtains.

Leo stood in the dim room, alone — except for the glowing screen in front of his eyes.

[SYSTEM: NEW MISSION AVAILABLE]

Quest: The Forgotten Document

Location: King’s Eastern Library, Restricted Wing
Objective: Retrieve the sealed parchment marked with your name.
Reward: + All Locked Memories Restored (Partial)

System Synchronization Progress: 0.2%

??? (Unknown skill activation)

Leo stared at the message in silence.

His heart beat slowly — not from fear, but from a creeping anticipation. A whisper from fate.

“All memories...?”

“Just what kind of past did I live?”

He clenched his jaw. The weight of that document felt heavier than any crown.

“Fine. Let’s start walking into the truth.”

🌑 Later – In the East Wing of the Castle

Dust coated the bookshelves. Most nobles avoided this place — a forgotten library, filled with torn scrolls and ancient records that no one read anymore.

But Leo walked with purpose.

His boots echoed across the marble floor.
Each step took him deeper into the shadows.
And deeper into himself.

“Why would a sealed document hold my name?”

“Why would the system reward me with memories… unless they were stolen?”

He found the scroll easily.

Wrapped in silver thread.

Marked with an ancient royal sigil.

He reached out.

And as his fingers touched the parchment—
A sudden pressure filled the air.

The torches flickered violently. A tremor of mana rippled through the hall.

And then—
Everything stopped.

Meanwhile – In the Far Mountains of the Kingdom

A sword plunged into the ground. A boy stood in the snow, unmoving.

His body was scarred.

His breathing was heavy.

And his eyes — cold and ancient.

Noah Sardinia.

Viscount’s son by name.

Prisoner of time by truth.

“It’s starting again…”

He looked to the sky as snow began to fall, gently.

His voice was hollow.

Dead from the inside.
Burned by countless regrets.
Held together only by his resolve.

“This is the last time.”

“No more loops.”

“No more dying like a dog while others scream for help.”

“This time… Leo Holford will awaken.”

He placed two fingers to his temple.

 SYSTEM MESSAGE: TIMEWALKER MODE – PASSIVE OBSERVATION ONLY

You may NOT interfere.
Thread detected: Target soul reactivating.
Fate Coil Lock – Weakening.
Observation Priority: Leo Holford

Noah whispered to the wind,

“Remember me this time, Leo.”

“Remember… who you were. Who I was.”

“And why we failed.”

 Back in the Library

Leo collapsed to his knees.

The moment he touched the scroll, images flashed across his mind.

Burning cities.
Falling kingdoms.
Blood-soaked thrones.
A hand — reaching for his as the world crumbled —
A whisper — "We’ll try again."

He gasped. His vision blurred.

His system flickered.

 [SYSTEM – Memory Sync Progress: 0.2% Complete]

Partial memory recovered:
— A battlefield
— A silver-haired knight
— A sacrifice

“Silver-haired… who was that…?”
“Why does his face look so familiar?”

Leo gritted his teeth.

His hands trembled.

“I don’t know who you are…”
“But something inside me… remembers your pain.”

He stood up, scroll in hand, eyes sharper than ever.

“Whatever this path is…”
“I’ll walk it.”
“Even if I walk it alone.”